Starting mechanism for explosive-engines.



E. A. JOHNSTON.

GHANISM FOR BXPLOSIVE ENGINES.

.APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 6, 1908.

Patented Deq. 8

STARTING ME UNITED srnrns. PgENT OFFICE.

EDWARD A. JOHNSTON, or AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO NTERNATIONAL HARVESTER COMPANY, A CORPORATION or NEW JERSEY.

STARTING MECHANISM FOR EXPLOSIVE-ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 8, mos.

Application filed. June 6,1908. Serial 0. 437,061.

i To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD A. JOHNSTON,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Explosive-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to starting mechanism for explosive engines, and in'particular to that type of mechanism which 18 designedto automatically uncouple the starting crank from the engine or motor shaft in case a reverseimpulse is imparted to. the shaft by a premature explosion during the operation of cranking, the invention being especially applicable for use in connection with explosive engines of automobiles, motor boats and the like.

The invention has for its object a simple and efficient mechanism for automatically releasing the crank from the engine shaft, and in case of back firing this result is attained by the mechanism illustrated in, the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a to plan view, partly in section, of so much an engine and its supporting-frame as is sufficient to illustrate my in vention. Fig. 2 represents a part of Fig. 1, having somev of its parts broken away for the purpose of further illustrating the mechanism. Fig. 3 is an end view of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is an end view, partly in section, of a part of Fig. 1.

The same reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views.

5 represents a part of an engine which may be one of any of the common forms; fi'represents a part of a body frame of an automobile, or other fixed. frame in which the engine is mounted; '7 represents an engine shaft; 8 is a sleeve secured to' the shaft and provided with clutch teeth 9 at its outer end;

10 is a clutch member rotatably and slid ably mounted upon the sleeve'8, having complemental' clutch teeth 11 adapted to engage with the clutch teeth on sleeve 8. It is also provided with clutch teeth 12 uponits inner opposite direction by means of a springpressed pawl 14 thatis pivoted upon a fixed part of the engine-frame. and adapted to en'- gage with the ratchet wheel.

15 represents a plate spring havin one end secured to the frame member Gand its opposite end engaging with theclutch memher 10 in a manner to yieldingly hold itin engagement with the clutch portion of the sleeve 8.

, 16 represents a spur gear integral. with the sleeve 8, which gear is adapted to mesh with a pinion 17 mounted upon a shaft 18 that isjournaledjn suitable-bearings secured to the fixed frame and having a crank 19 at its outer end. 1 v

It is obvious that the sleeve 8 may be omitted and clutch teeth be formed directly upon the end of the engine shaft 7; but for convenience in manufacture it is preferred that the construction as illustrated be used.

In the operation of the device in starting the engine, the'crank is turned in a direction torotate the clutch member 10 in the direc- 101): indicated by the arrow, in Fig. 3, and the spl.ng 15, moving the clutch member 10 longltudinally along the shaft, will cause its teeth toengage with those formed upon the sleeve 8 and thereb rotate the sleeve and shaft in the proper direction. Should back firing? occur, and the engine shaft and connected parts be caused to rotate in an oppofrom the clutch teeth on thesleeve 8, as

shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. After the engine has been started, and to prevent any rattling of the parts, the operator will turn the crank 19 in an opposite direction sufficient to cause the clutch members upon the sleeve 8 and ratchet disk 13 to move the said sleeve and shaft in a direction to start the engine, a clutch disk loosely mounted uponsaid sleeve and adapted to engage with said clutch member and rotate therewith when the latter is 0 erated to start the engine, said clutch dis being secured-against rotation in an opposite direction and operative when so secured to disengage said clutch member from said'sleeve, and means for yieldingly holding said clutch member in engagement with said clutch sleeve.

2. A starting mechanism for explosive engines including, in combination, an engine shaft, a clutch sleeve secured thereto, a

clutch member rotatablj and longitudinally I l, complemental clutch teeth upon the adjacent movable on said sleeve and adapted to be clutched therewith in a manner to rotate said sleeve and'shaft in a. direction to start the engine, a'clutch disk loosely mounted upon saidsleeve and adapted to engage with said clutch member and rotate therewith when the latter is o erated to start the engine, said clutch dis being secured against rotation in an opposite direction and 0 erative when so secured to disengage said 0 utch member from said sleeve, and means for rotating said clutch member in a direction to start the engine, said means including a spur gear integral with said clutch member, a

ion being secured to a crank shaft mounted in fixed bearings on the engine frame.

3:, A starting mechanism for explosive enginesx, including, in combination, an engine shaft, a clutch member rotatably and longitudinally movable on said shaft and adapted to be clutched therewith in a manner to rotate said shaft in adirectionto start the enmember to move longitudinally upon said shaft in a manner to b clutched therewith, a ratchet toothed disk oosely mountedu on said shaft adjacent said' clutch memiier surfaces of said disk and clutch members, said teeth being adapted to interlock and cause said members to rotate in unison when said clutch member is rotated in one direction, and to separate said members when the clutch member is rotated in an opposite direction and the disk held against rotation, and means for holding said disk against rotation in an op osite direction.

EIDVVARD A. JOHNSTON. Witnesses:

S. P. WALLACE, W.'L. CARLTON.

glne, a spring operative to cause said clutch 

